Celebrity land package or private to Australia

[rkhtex]

We have booked the land package through Celebrity for our Australia/New Zealand cruise in Feb/March 2013, but now we’ve been given some information from a travel agent regarding booking a private land package through About Australia dot com. The private package is more expensive BUT it includes airfare. Also, there seems to be a lot more “down” time. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. I kind of like the itinerary that Celebrity provides better. Anybody have any experience with this? Thanks.

Kim

[ghstudio]

Other than in Alaska, I would not think about letting a cruise line make arrangements for a ground trip....or actually stated more accurately, I would not think about letting a cruise line make a profit by booking me on a ground trip I could book on my own and I would have a better ground trip with better hotels and far less people.

 

I would really encourage you to do a little research on ground trips that are available before you let celebrity pick the tour company.

[Northern Aurora]

The issue of organized cruise tour versus planning your own land tour frequently arises on the Alaska board. As someone who lives in Alaska I am somewhat perplexed that so many visitors to my state feel they can't make their own land travel plans. While an organized cruise tour clearly has its merits for folks with serious health problems, most visitors can customize their own land tour.

 

On the Alaska board several posters have priced out a cruise tour versus doing the land tour themselves, and the price savings in doing your own land tour are considerable. I suspect you would find the same price savings in doing your own land tour in Australia versus purchasing an organized cruise tour. In addition to the price savings of doing your own land tour, the land tour can be customized to your own interests. If you find that the Celebrity itinerary is of interest to you, consider copying that itinerary and doing your own land tour.

 

We have been to Australia, and in fact were in Sydney for a week last November following a Celebrity cruise. Australia is a very easy country for a North American to navigate, with very friendly citizens.

[nenasmum]

As an Australian I cannot imagine why anyone would waste their holiday dollars on an arranged package over here. Other than the driving on the other side of the road issue Australia is easy peasy- and ther are plenty of coach tours etc you can organize from your hotels, HO HO buses etc. Have a go and see what you can organize yourself and the cost before you make the decision. Australia is safe and we speak almost the same language after all!! Jennie

[Dowunder]

Without knowing your itinerary, I am sure About Australia would be better value for money. Australia is an easy country to navigate, but extra downtime with the private tour gives you a good chance to explore on your own. Hopefully it includes Sydney, the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock and of course my home city of Melbourne with a trip down the Great Ocean Road (good for Koalas and Kangaroos in the wild). Aussies are very friendly and love tourists so enjoy your visit Down Under.

[Kellie Poodle]

I did the land package with Royal Caribbean in 2007.

 

Everything was arranged so that we could meet our schedule with the ship in Sydney. When our flight from Cairns was delayed, we were very nervous about making the sail away.

 

We got to the ship, which had been waiting for us. We boarded immediately and were taken to an area in front of guest relations where we were told to stay put as we had not been processed. The second the last one of the group was aboard, they cast off and set sail.

 

After about 15 minutes where they processed us, we got sea passes and were permitted to go our way.

 

One of our suitcases had been picked up by another tour and all the arrangements to deliver it to our next port in Melbourne were made by the cruise line.

 

Sometimes there are advantages. If we had done a private tour, we would have certainly missed the boat.

 

Accommodations at Ularu (Ayres Rock) will be identical with any tour. There is just the one area to stay. You might stay somewhere different in Port Douglas, but just about every tour takes you to the catamaran that goes out to the Great Barrier Reef. The crocodile farm was an interesting experience. We got to pet a koala and see some very interesting animals.

 

Whichever you choose, make sure you get to see Ularu at sunrise and sunset and that the Sounds of Silence dinner is included. For us these were the highlights of the tour.

[photodock]

We also booked the land tour on the Solstice, January 2013. A friend refered Barbara LaRue to me, a highly qualified travel specialist for Australia and New Zealand. She has put together almost the same package as Celebritys at a $1500/per person reduced cost. She's been in the business for 30 years and I can't recommend her enough. If interested, e-mail her at bjlarue@hotmail.com We are very happy with what she's put together for me and my clients!